Switzerland sends aid package for Afghan refugees
The Swiss Development Agency has sent a first shipment of emergency relief supplies to Afghanistan.
The first of three air shipments totalling 120 tonnes consists of tents, sleeping bags and blankets.
The supplies are being flown to Turkmenabad in Turkmenistan, where they will benefit an estimated 20,000 Afghan refugees fleeing their war-torn country.
“We are looking at the possibility of cross-border operations, as well as setting up camps along the border in Turkmenistan,” said SDC spokesman, Joachim Ahrens.
“On the first flight, we are also sending two logistics experts with the necessary technical know-how regarding the use of tents.”
Land convoy
In parallel, the SDC has sent a land convoy of seven lorries transporting first aid goods such as plastic sheeting, blankets and cooking utensils. The convoy departed last Friday from the agency’s warehouse in Pristina for Turkmenabad.
“These trucks are going to travel 4800 kilometres through Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Iran to Turkmenistan,” said Ahrens. “The relief goods are destined for a logistics centre in Turkmenabad which belongs to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.”
The SFr2.7 million ($1.63 million) operation comes in response to an appeal from the UNHCR.
It is part of a SFr17.5 million ($10.57 million) package Switzerland has allocated for humanitarian aid to Afghanistan’s suffering civil population.
The funds are used for programmes administered by the International Red Cross, the UN and non-governmental organisations.
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